Grants of up to PLN 550,000 for SMEs and start-ups – the ŁSSE start_UP project in the Transformation Area (FELD.09.01)

Łódź Special Economic Zone S.A. is launching the “start_UP” grant project in Q3–Q4 2026, under which 103 entities from the Transformation Area of the Łódzkie Voivodeship will receive financial support with a total value of approximately PLN 19 million.

What is the “start_UP” project run by ŁSSE

The full name of the undertaking is “start_UP (Transformation and Acceleration Zone for the Territorial Development of the Transformation Area)”. The project is financed by the Just Transition Fund (FST) under the regional programme European Funds for Łódzkie 2021–2027 (FELD.09.01 Economy in transition).

Two support paths – incubation and development

Incubation path

The target groups are:

• natural persons living, studying or working in the Transformation Area of the Łódzkie Voivodeship who intend to start a business,
• SMEs with a registered office or branch in the Transformation Area that are at an early stage of development (up to 60 months from the date of registration).

The competitive procedure will select 88 projects. The estimated value of the path is PLN 16,604,000.00. The duration of a single incubation path is 12 months. During this time, the grant awarded should be fully settled. The operator provides support with the correct settlement of funds on the basis of grant entrustment agreements.

Development path

The target group is SMEs with a registered office or branch in the Transformation Area that have been operating for at least one year before joining the project.

The competitive procedure will select 15 entities. The estimated value of the path is PLN 580,000.00. In addition to the grant, participants receive expert advisory assistance and support in carrying out purchasing procedures and settling the aid.

How much is the grant really? Allocation analysis

The operator’s promotional materials refer to grants of “up to PLN 550,000”. Comparing this amount with the allocation of the individual paths leads to important practical conclusions.

• 1. The amount of PLN 550,000 is the maximum value of the project budget. The average allocation per project in the incubation path is approx. PLN 188,700. A grant at the upper limit will therefore be available to a narrow group of the highest-rated projects, with correspondingly lower amounts for the others.
• 2. The amount of PLN 550,000 does not apply to the development path. The entire allocation of this path is PLN 580,000 for 15 entities, giving an average of approx. PLN 38,700. Entrepreneurs who have been operating for more than a year should plan a budget in the order of several tens of thousands of zlotys, supplemented by the value of advisory services.
• 3. Grants account for approx. 86% of the value of the entire project (PLN 17,184,000 out of PLN 19,980,832.14). The remainder covers operating, advisory and administrative costs on the operator’s side.

Disclaimer: the above values come from the project documentation and are estimates. Only the provisions of the grant award rules, which will be published by ŁSSE before the call is launched, are binding.

Transformation Area – territorial criterion

Territorial eligibility refers to the Territorial Just Transition Plan for the Łódzkie Voivodeship (TPST WŁ), approved by European Commission Implementing Decision No C(2022) 9072 of 5 December 2022 and adopted by Resolution No 317/23 of the Board of the Łódzkie Voivodeship of 14 April 2023.

The Transformation Area covers 35 municipalities in the Piotrków and Sieradz subregions, with an area of 3,667 km² (20.1% of the voivodeship’s area) and a population of 416,600 (17% of the region’s inhabitants).

The documentation allows the eligibility of entities that have, in the Transformation Area, a registered office or branch. This means that an entrepreneur registered outside the Transformation Area may consider establishing a branch in one of the 35 municipalities. However, this solution requires prior verification of the detailed requirements of the rules, in particular any conditions concerning the branch’s period of operation and the place where the undertaking is carried out.

Eligibility criteria – summary

Catalogue of expenditure that can be financed with the grant

The catalogue is broad. Support may cover, among other things:

• purchase of fixed assets,
• intangible assets,
• construction works and the modernisation and adaptation of premises,
• purchase of raw materials and materials necessary for testing, production or first sales,
• marketing activities and participation in trade fairs,
• employment of additional staff,
• research and development work,
• implementation of new technologies and innovations,
• training,
• investments in digital technologies, including software, applications and IT systems,
• in certain cases, also the costs of caring for family members, if the lack of such care is a barrier to starting a business.

What stage the project is at

The project is currently at the stage of building its implementation structure. The announcement of the call for final recipients is planned for Q3–Q4 2026.

If you are interested in taking part in the programme, join the list of people who, in cooperation with Dotacje Online, will prepare the documentation and the grant application. We will be able to contact you once the call is launched and begin preparing the application.

Need support with your application?

DOTACJE ONLINE prepares grant applications and handles the settlement of projects financed from European funds. If you run a business in the Transformation Area of the Łódzkie Voivodeship or plan to start one, please get in touch: we will analyse the eligibility of your undertaking and prepare the application documentation.